Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) II

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Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type II (MEN II) is a disorder passed down through families in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor. Endocrine glands most commonly involved include:

Symptoms

Exams and Tests

To diagnose this condition, the health care provider looks for a mutation in the RET gene. This can be done with a blood test. Additional tests are done to determine which hormones are being overproduced.

Treatment

Surgery is needed to remove a pheochromocytoma, which can be life-threatening due to the hormones it makes.

For medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, the thyroid gland and surrounding lymph nodes must be totally removed. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is given after surgery.

If a child is known to carry the RET gene mutation, surgery to remove the thyroid before it becomes cancerous is considered. This should be discussed with a physician who is very familiar with this condition. It would be done at an early age (before age 5) in people with known MEN IIa, and before age 6 months in people with MEN IIb.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Pheochromocytoma is usually not cancerous (benign). While medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is a very aggressive and potentially fatal cancer, early diagnosis and surgery can often lead to a cure. Surgery does not cure the underlying MEN II.

Possible Complications

The spread of cancerous cells is a possible complication.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you notice symptoms of MEN II or if someone in your family receives such a diagnosis.

Prevention

Screening close relatives of people with MEN II may lead to early detection of the syndrome and related cancers, allowing potentially preventive intervention.

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